"This world of ours...must avoid becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate, and be, instead, a proud confederation of mutual trust and respect." ~ Dwight D. Eisenhower
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VETERANS DAY 2008 - A POEM
The stories told in staring eyes,
monotoned during daylight, and
screamed through haunted darkness,
bespoke unimaginable horror.
The anguish inflicted on my generation
warned of a military madness
that feeds upon the newborn.
I bore fear along with my child
Even as my womb cradled and nurtured,
I knew one day they would come.
Drawn by youth, thirsting fresh blood,
they'd come for you those Vampires of War.
Joyful colors clothed your childhood.
Your favorite: purple.
Never the small-sized uniforms that foreshadow dark future.
Cammies aren't meant for kids.
No guns for my son!
No onimous plastic noise makers
pressed to imitate authoritarian threat!
So you pretended sticks into rifles.
Mother songs lullabied hope and peace
while soldiers who'd put down their weapons
and the millions in our streets,
ended the Tonkin-induced war.
Vietnam swept G.I. Joe from toy store shelves.
But the dolly boy resurrected to
trickle down into little boy hands
via Reagan's pipe dream presidency.
You grew while I taught you to value humanity,
to share, to love, to respect.
I showed you how to step into other existences
yet they lurked. Vulture-like. Watching. Waiting,
Ready to stalk when restless and unsure,
You lost your way in school.
Adventure! Money! Manhood! A mere GED away.
You turned your head, and your life.
The truth, with which I'd armed you, once targeted,
was swiftly and effectively neutralized.
You swallowed their bait.
They set the hookand reeled your from my arms.
Fourteen years on, the PTSD hid behind your unfocused stare.
It was your guarded monotone I heard during the day.
And you who faced the dark demons brought by sleepless terror, Alone.
We could not protect you there.
Then you challenged the Vampires of War
by speaking truth to their prey
and turned numerous boys from a war-torn path
your brother among those who walked away.
And now, You've survived the battle within.
Victorious, you win it still every day,
giving each of us who love you
the freedom to finally say...
Welcome Home Son, Welcome Home.
KWW
November, 2008
I found the above poem linked in the comments of a blog on the Seattle Post Intelligencer today.
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